John h



(No Model.)

J. H. SUNDERMAN.

TOP. 1

- Patented 00t.*30

D m M w JOHN H. SUNDERMAN,

PATENT. "OFFI E- oF QUINCY, ILLInoIs.

TOP.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 287,591, dated October 30, 1883.

Application filed September 18, 1883. (N0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN H. SUNDERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Top, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying draw- 1ngs. I

This invention relates to that class of toys which are known'as spinning-tops, and it has for its object to produce a device of the class named, whereby caps may be exploded when the top is thrown upon the floor in the act of spinning, as will be hereinafter fully de scribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims. V

In' the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a side view of a spinning-top embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical sec tionalview of the same, and Fig. 3 is a' side view of the shank or central stem removed from the top. The same letters refer to the same parts in all'the figures.

A in the drawings hereto annexed refers to the body of the top, the lower end of which is cut off, so as to form a plane surface. The

said body has a central vertical perforation,

B, which serves to receive a stem or shank, G, the lower end of which has a conical enlargement, D, fitting closely against the lower plane surface of the-body of the top. The upper end of the shank O is screw-threaded to receive a nut, E, having a milled annular. flange, F, by which it may be easilyturnedpr manipulated,

so as to tighten or loosen a s )ring, G, which may be made of rubber, metal, or other suitable material, and which is interposed between the said nut and a shoulder, H, formed in the body of thetop when the latteris spun, thus insuring a successful operation.

at the upper end of the vertical perforation B in the body of the top. The lower end of the enlargement D is shaped to form apoint such as is usually formed upon spinningtops.

The shank C is provided near its lower end and above the enlargement D with laterallyprojecting wings, I I, fitting in recesses J J in the body of the top. By this construction the central shank is prevented from revolving The operation of this invention will be readtion, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed. By depressing the central stem or shank, which may be done by a Sim-- ple pressure of the thumb upon the nut at the upper endof the latter, the said stem may be depressed, thus enabling a paper cap to-be insorted between the lower end of the body of the top and the enlargement D upon the stem 0. i The cap is held and retained in this posi tion by the pressure of the springG. When the top is spun, the concussion caused by its being thrown upon'the floor will serve to ex- =plode the cap.

By this improvement the lower end of the central stem or shank has been considerably weighted by the enlargement D at its lower. end, thus insuring, under all circumstances,

the successful operation ofthe exploding device without interfering with thes'pinning of the top, as is the case when, as has usually been the objection in this class of devices, the top isweighted at-its upper end, or tophea y.

. Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. As an improvement in spinningtops, the combination, with a suitable body having a central vertical perforation, of astem sliding vertically in the said perforation, and having at its lower end an enlargement abutting against the lower end of the body, and a suitably-arranged spring, whereby the said enlargement and body are held automatically in contact with each other, substantially as set forth.

2. As an improvement in spinning-tops, the combination of a suitable body havinga central vertical perforation, a stem sliding vertically in the said perforation, an enlargement at the lower end of the said stem, abutting against the lowerend of the body, a spring.

volving in the body, substantially as set forth.

3. Ina spinning-top, the combination, with a suitably-constructed body having a central vertical perforation, and the lower, end of 100 which is cut off, so as to form a plane surface, of a stem verticallymovable in'the said body,

and having flanges, whereby it is prevented In testimony that I claim the foregoing as from revolving, an enlargement at the lower my own I have hereto aifixed my signature in 10 end of the said stein a nut fitted at the upper presence of two witnesses. end of the said stem, and a spring interposed T T 1 T 5 between the said nut and a shoulder formed JOEL SUB D LRMAL' at the upper end of the central perforation in the body of the top, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Witnesses:

Rronn. JANSEN, J. (l. THOMPSON. 

